Anam quits TDP, set to join YSRP Congress

Nellore’s popular leader Anam Ramanarayana Reddy had finally quit the ruling Telugu Desam Party. It was expected some two months ago when his brother Anam Vivekananda Reddy was alive. The brothers were not happy with the TDP. They enjoyed the power during the Congress and Ramanarayana Reddy was the Finance Minister in Rosaiah and Kirankumar Reddy’s governmets.

After the Congress party’s debacle in the 2014, the brothers joined the TDP anticipating a good deal for the family. It was promised too by TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu when he admitted them. But, nothing worked out for them practically. They were uncomfortable in the TDP and looked around for a change. They found YSR Congress as the best bet but it did not work out when Vivekananda Reddy was alive.

Ramanarayana Reddy had reportedly made up his mind to join the YSR Congress. Though there is speculation that he is also looking at Bharatiya Janata Party too, in all probability the former minister would join the YSR Congress, as most Congress leaders feel at home in the YSR Congress party. The Anam family is popular family in Nellore district with more than five decades of active public life.

Anam brothers were with late NTR in TDP in the early years of the party. They sailed with NTR when Nadendla Bhaskara Rao revolted against the party founder. Anam Ramanarayana Reddy became a minister in NTR cabinet in 1988 when Nallapareddi Srinivasulu Reddy was removed from the Cabinet. The Anam family returned to the Congress in 1991 and continued in the Congress till 2014, enjoying power. While Anam Vivekananada Reddy was looked as loud mouth in the family, Ramanarayana Reddy is respected for his knowledge in various subjects.

Teamed up with late Y S Rajasekhar Reddy, Anam Ramanarayana Reddy played key role in the Congress politics both in opposition first and later in the government. He was also once considered for the Chief Minister post when Kirankumar Reddy refused to toe the party line for bifurcation of the State in 2013.